Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Ramos took the first step Thursday toward his general court-martial for the December death of 8-year-old Anthony DeWeese.

Ramos was arraigned in a San Diego military court room on charges of involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and lesser counts, which could bring to up 20 years in prison.

The Coast Guard’s chief trial judge, Capt. Gary Felicetti, allowed the 21-year-old boat pilot to withhold entering a plea. Ramos also didn’t specify if he wanted a jury trial or trial by judge.

Ramos, who was driving the 33-foot patrol boat that collided with the DeWeese family craft on Dec. 20, has become the focus of the Coast Guard’s prosecution of the San Diego Bay incident. Three other crew members are being tried in venues that will bring sentences of a year or less, if convicted.

Ramos’ trial is tentatively scheduled for February.

The next hearing is slated for Dec. 14, but military lawyers suggested Thursday that it might be a good idea move it, since that date is near the one-year anniversary of Anthony’s death.

At the prosecution’s request, the judge will issue a partial gag order on the lawyers. Neither side will be able to make background or off-the-record comments, and a court-appointed officer will review press releases before they are issued.

Coast Guard officials wouldn’t comment on the reason for the order, but earlier this month information from an investigator’s report appeared on the Los Angeles Times website before officially released.

Ramos’ lawyers are still pushing to hold the court-martial in San Diego. Thursday’s hearing was conducted as a video teleconference with Ramos and one defense lawyer at San Diego Naval Base and the judge, prosecutor and assistant defense lawyer in Alexandria, Va.

The defense has complained that it wasn't able to put on witnesses in person for Ramos' preliminary hearing, held at Coast Guard District 11 headquarters in Alameda.

Adding to that, on Thursday, one of his lawyers pointed out that San Diego Naval Base has metal detectors for better courtroom security.